Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods to concentrate sunlight with inflatable enclosures to heat substances, including fluids and for cooking, and to provide concentrated sunlight for other uses. The system includes an inflatable sunlight concentrator (upper balloon), an inflatable cooking housing (bottom balloon), and a cooking container. When inflated, the upper balloon has a substantially cone-shape and concentrates sunlight towards the bottom balloon. The bottom balloon may be of various shapes and may concentrate sunlight towards the cooking space. Each balloon is less than two ounces and can be folded into a small pocket-sized package when it is deflated. The cooking space may be a thermal bag, a box, or an insulated space.

Abstract: A two-axis tracking solar concentrator system includes a sunlight concentrator, a Fresnel lens, a two-axis solar tracker, sunlight reflectors, an enclosure, a sunlight conversion device, and other components. The lens has very long focal length so that all concentrated sunlight will enter the sunlight conversion device through a small window. The elevation rotation axis goes through the focal point so that the sunlight conversion device will remain at the same horizontal level all the time. The concentrated sunlight makes it easy to achieve a needed temperature. The two-axis tracking design eliminates the need of frequent adjustment. An offset design permits having the sunlight conversion device under shade, so that people do not have to expose themselves to sunlight to do solar cooking. The enclosure significantly reduces the risk of burns and fires. It also makes it very easy to control the heating or cooking process.

Abstract: A two-axis tracking solar concentrator system includes a sunlight concentrator, a Fresnel lens, a two-axis solar tracker, sunlight reflectors, an enclosure, a sunlight conversion device, and other components. The lens has very long focal length so that all concentrated sunlight will enter the sunlight conversion device through a small window. The elevation rotation axis goes through the focal point so that the sunlight conversion device will remain at the same horizontal level all the time. The concentrated sunlight makes it easy to achieve a needed temperature. The two-axis tracking design eliminates the need of frequent adjustment. An offset design permits having the sunlight conversion device under shade, so that people do not have to expose themselves to sunlight to do solar cooking. The enclosure significantly reduces the risk of burns and fires. It also makes it very easy to control the heating or cooking process.

Abstract: A solar power system concurrently generates electricity and a heated transparent fluid while maintaining the solar cells at an optimum temperature and optimizing the heat transfer by matching the refractive index of the secondary sunlight concentrator to the transparent fluid. A solar tracker aligns a primary sunlight concentrator to collect sunlight and directs the sunlight and a system for transferring solar heat to a transparent fluid and into a solar power electrical generating system. The concentrated sunlight transfers solar heat to a transparent fluid via first pass through the transparent fluid. The concentrated sunlight is further concentrated to raise its temperature by passing the concentrated sunlight through a secondary sunlight concentrator, and then passed again through the transparent fluid to transfer heat. The solar energy diminished concentrated sunlight strikes a solar cell array to generate electricity.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods to concentrate sunlight with inflatable enclosures to heat substances, including fluids and for cooking, and to provide concentrated sunlight for other uses. The system includes an inflatable sunlight concentrator (upper balloon), an inflatable cooking housing (bottom balloon), and a cooking container. When inflated, the upper balloon has a substantially cone-shape and concentrates sunlight towards the bottom balloon. The bottom balloon may be of various shapes and may concentrate sunlight towards the cooking space. Each balloon is less than two ounces and can be folded into a small pocket-sized package when it is deflated. The cooking space may be a thermal bag, a box, or an insulated space.

Abstract: A two-axis tracking solar cooking system includes a sunlight concentrator, a two-axis solar tracker, sunlight reflectors, an enclosure, an oven or a stove, and other components. The 90-degree offset parabolic reflector has very long focal length so that all concentrated sunlight will enter the oven through a small window at the focal point of the 90-degree offset parabolic reflector. The elevation rotation axis goes through the focal point so that the oven will remain at the same horizontal level all the time. The concentrated sunlight makes it easy to achieve needed cooking temperature. The two-axis tracking design eliminates the need of frequent adjustment. The 90-degree offset design permits having the oven under shade, so that people do not have to expose themselves to sunlight to do solar cooking. The enclosure significantly reduces the risk of burns and fires. It also makes it very easy to control the cooking process.

Abstract: A solar power system concurrently generates electricity and a heated transparent fluid while maintaining the solar cells at an optimum temperature and optimizing the heat transfer by matching the refractive index of the secondary sunlight concentrator to the transparent fluid. A solar tracker aligns a primary sunlight concentrator to collect sunlight and directs the sunlight and a system for transferring solar heat to a transparent fluid and into a solar power electrical generating system. The concentrated sunlight transfers solar heat to a transparent fluid via first pass through the transparent fluid. The concentrated sunlight is further concentrated to raise its temperature by passing the concentrated sunlight through a secondary sunlight concentrator, and then passed again through the transparent fluid to transfer heat. The solar energy diminished concentrated sunlight strikes a solar cell array to generate electricity.

Abstract: An alternating current (AC, or ac) solar electric power generation system includes a primary concentrator to concentrate sunlight, one optional reflector to redirect the concentrated sunlight, a concentrating solar PV (CPV) module, a rotary electric connector, and a motor with an optional gearbox to spin the CPV module. The photovoltaic cells produce a varying electric output that is transmitted to the stationary contact by the rotary connector. Two groups of solar cells installed in the opposite direction with a phase difference of 180 degrees generate the one-phase AC electric power. An air and water mist, or other coolant system may cool the solar cells.

Abstract: A solar power system concurrently generates electricity and a heated transparent fluid while maintaining the solar cells at an optimum temperature and optimizing the heat transfer by matching the refractive index of the secondary sunlight concentrator to the transparent fluid. A solar tracker aligns a primary sunlight concentrator to collect sunlight and directs the sunlight and a system for transferring solar heat to a transparent fluid and into a solar power electrical generating system. The concentrated sunlight transfers solar heat to a transparent fluid via first pass through the transparent fluid. The concentrated sunlight is further concentrated to raise its temperature by passing the concentrated sunlight through a secondary sunlight concentrator, and then passed again through the transparent fluid to transfer heat. The solar energy diminished concentrated sunlight strikes a solar cell array to generate electricity.

Abstract: A low numerical aperture (low-NA) light concentration and transmission system collects, concentrates and transmits light for interior illumination. A solar tracker aligns a primary light concentrator to collect light and direct the light to a secondary light concentrator and a filter for removing ultraviolet and infrared radiation. On exiting the secondary light concentrator, the optical axis of the concentrated light is aligned to optimize the numerical aperture of the concentrated light with a numerical aperture (NA) optimizer having a light guide to direct the concentrated light to an interior luminaire. The method of the low numerical aperture transmission of light has the advantages of fewer reflections in the light guide, low loss, low cost, and easy installation and operation.

Abstract: A low numerical aperture (low-NA) light concentration and transmission system collects, concentrates and transmits light for interior illumination. A solar tracker aligns a primary light concentrator to collect light and direct the light to a secondary light concentrator and a filter for removing ultraviolet and infrared radiation. On exiting the secondary light concentrator, the optical axis of the concentrated light is aligned to optimize the numerical aperture of the concentrated light with a numerical aperture (NA) optimizer having a light guide to direct the concentrated light to an interior luminaire. The method of the low numerical aperture transmission of light has the advantages of fewer reflections in the light guide, low loss, low cost, and easy installation and operation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to horizontally burning formed-body arc tubes and arc tube blanks for high intensity discharge lamps. The bottom portion of the light emitting chamber of the arc tubes is flattened in an area between the electrodes to reduce the distance between the bottom wall of the arc tube and the arc, and to increase the surface area of the pool of condensed halides during operation of a metal halide lamp. The flattened bottom of the arc tubes may be generally planar, slightly arcuate longitudinally and/or transversely, or slightly v-shaped longitudinally and/or transversely. The top portion of the arc tube conforms generally to the shape of the arc during operation of the lamp.